News

IRA chief linked to £1m British property portfolio

A £1m property portfolio in Manchester linked to Thomas “Slab” Murphy, the IRA’s chief of staff, is being investigated by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in Dublin.

Police suspect that an even bigger empire of up to 200 properties across Britain may have been bought by Murphy’s representatives since 2002. Although his name appears on none of the deeds, officers believe the south Armagh farmer was behind the purchases of the homes, which are all mortgaged and earn rental income.

The CAB is an Irish government body charged with depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gains and assets.

Murphy made a fortune smuggling oil, cattle, cigarettes and grain over the Irish border. He became notorious after The Sunday Times revealed his involvement in IRA bombing campaigns in Britain. Murphy sued for libel, but lost the case in 1998 after an 11-year battle.